Double lock coin box for vending machines



Aug. 1, 1967 K. E. PENNELL 3,333,764

DOUBLE LOCK COIN BOX FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Feb. 1, 1966 hi M 90 a5 [PW 2/ :6, Z INVENTOR A77 E, Pen/7a ATTOR x5.

United States Patent 3,333,764 DOUBLE LOCK COIN BOX FOR VENDING MACHINES Kit E. Pennell, Independence, Mo., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,273 3 Claims. (Cl. 23215) This invention relates to improvements in theft-proof vending machine coin boxes which are utilized to retain a reserved percentage of the machine proceeds for the owner of the machine.

In vending machine installations where the proprietor of the installation site divides the proceeds with the owner of the machine, commonly a bottling company or other product producer, a coin diverter may be provided in the coin controlled operating mechanism of the machine to automatically divide the proceeds in accordance with the particular sales arrangement. The diversion channel directs the owners percentage of the proceeds to a separate coin box provided with two key-operated locks. One of the locks is utilized to secure the box to the machine, while the other lock permits the owner to gain access to the coinage retained in the box after removal of the latter from the machine.

Vending machine owners frequently employ routemen who periodically substitute an empty box for a coincontaining box at each installation site. A routeman is given a key to the lock which permits the coin box to be released from the machine. However, the coinage is not removed until the loaded boxes are returned to the owner, who has the key to the second lock. In this manner, removal of the coinage from the boxes is under the complete control of the owner.

Although this procedure has proved to be satisfactory in practice, the coin boxes themselves present a number of problems. First, the coin entrance must be closed to prevent access thereto by the routeman once the box is removed from the machine. Secondly, some means must be provided through which the operator can render the box reusable after the coinage has been removed therefrom. Thirdly, to provide a practical unit, the box must be rug ed, relatively inexpensive, and simple to operate.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a double lock coin box in which access to the coinage therein through the coin entrance is positively prevented upon removal of the box from the machine, and wherein the box is rendered suitable for reuse by the operation of mechanism therein which is accessible only after the box is opened by the owner or his agents.

As a corollary to the foregoing object, it is an important aim of the invention to provide a coin box as aforesaid having a gate which shifts into blocking relationship to the coin entrance as the first lock is operated to release the box from the machine, and to provide a resettable latch which automatically holds the gate in the closed position until the box is opened and resetting of the latch effected.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the box showing the gate in its open position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the box showing the gate in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the box as strated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

illuline line

line

3,333,764 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3.

The coin box of the instant invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and is provided with a top 12, opposed sides 14 and 16, a front 18, a back and a bottom 21. A pair of opposed, inwardly extending flanges 22 are formed at the uppermost margins of sides 14 and 16 and overlie top 12 to provide a means of attaching the box to the housing or cabinet of a vending machine (not shown). In FIG. 5, a portion of a mounting bracket which would project from the machine housing is illustrated, and comprises a pair of angle members 24 which present outwardly directed flanges slidably received between flanges 22 and top 12. Box 10 is of sheet metal construction, and thus is rugged and inexpensive to fabricate.

Top 12 has a rectangular coin entrance 26 therein which, when the box is attached to the machine, would be registered with a diversion channel which directs a reserved percentage of the machine proceeds to coin box 10. A gate 28 adjacent entrance 26 within box 10 is connected to a keyoperated lock 30 and is shifted thereby between a closed position blocking entrance 26, illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, and an open position shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7. Gate 28 comprises an elongated, transversely arcuate plate having an outwardly convex surface 32, the ends of the plate being provided with mounting ears 34, one ear being attached to lock 30 by nut 36 while the other ear rotatably receives an inwardly projecting pin 38 rigid with back 2t). The axis of rotation of the rotatable part of lock 30 is aligned with the axis of pin 32 so that, when key 40 is inserted into lock 30 and rotated, gate 28 swings through an arc in the direction of curvature of surface 32.

A pair of lugs 42 project from one longitudinal edge of gate 28 and are received by a pair of slots 44 in an angularly disposed plate 46 underlying one side of entrance 26. Plate 46 aids in the directing of coinage into the interior of box 10 and cooperates with gate 28 to close coin entrance 26 when the gate is shifted into blocking relationship to the entrance. Note also that a locking member or bolt 48 projects upwardly from lock 30 and, when the gate is open, projects above flanges 22 as is clear in FIGS. 3 and 7. The vending machine would be provided with a slot in its housing between angle mounting members 24 through which the tip of locking member 48 would extend when the box is positioned on members 24 and key 46 is operated to open gate 28. Therefore, the box would be securely locked to the machine simultaneously with removal of the gate from blocking relationship to coin entrance 26.

A latch mechanism 59 is disposed adjacent the inner wall of back 20 and is isolated from the coinage in the box by a protective plate or partition 52 secured to pin 38 and a second, inwardly projecting pin 54 by retainers 56. Mechanism includes a latch member 58 integral with the mounting ear 34 of gate 28 adjacent back 20, a swingable latch dog 60, and a reset element 62. Latch member 58 is in the form of an arcuate plate having a radial projection defining a catch 64, and a radially outwardly spaced, arcuate component 66 defining an arcuate slot 68 between components 66 and the main portion of member 58.

Latch dog is in the form of a tab projecting from an upright plate 7 6 of generally rectangular configuration. Plate 70 is pivotally mounted on pin 54 approximately midway between the upper and lower ends of the plate, the lower end portion thereof presenting a reset element 62. A spring 72 is coiled around pin 54 and has a pair of legs bearing against side 14 and element 62 respectively, as clearly shown in FIG. 6.

Side 16 (FIG. 3) has a pair of opposed, vertically extending, inwardly projecting flanges 74 which define the longitudinal margins of an access opening, the latter being normally closed by a sliding cover plate 76 received between flanges 74 and an upright flange 78 integral with base 21 (FIG. 7), and the adjacent longitudinal edge of protective plate 52. When cover 7 6 is fully seated to deny access to the contents of box 10, the uppermost margin 80 of cover 76 is received by a slot 81 formed in the upper portion of side 16, as shown in FIG. 7.

Cover 76 is provided with an integral tab 82 having an eye 84 therein which receives a locking finger or bolt 86 extending from the movable part of a lock 88 operated by a key 90. Finger 86 is moved into and out of interlocking relationship with tab 82 upon insertion of key 90 in the lock 88 and rotation thereof.

In the discussion of the operation and manner of utiliz-ation of the inst-ant invention, it will first be assumed that box 10 has been removed from the vending machine with coinage contained therein. In such case, the positions'of the various movable parts of the structure will be as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. Note that gate 28 is closed and access to the contents of the box through coin entrance 26 is thereby denied. Reopening of the gate through the use of key 40 cannot be effected because latch dog 60 would engage catch 64 after the gate is shifted through a small displacement. Additionally, attention is directed "to the fact that locking member 48 of lock 30 is withdrawn; this enables the box to be removed from the machine by sliding fianges 22 relative to bracket members 24 (FIG. 5).

It will be appreciated that the coin box in the possession of the routeman is theft-proof, since the routeman is provided with key 40 only. Key 90 is in the hands of the owner or his agents and is utilized after the coincontaining box is returned to the owner. Insertion of key 90 into lock 88 and rotation thereof shifts locking finger 86 out of eye 84 to permit removal of cover 76 by sliding movement thereof vertically downwardly with respect to the orientation of the box as illustrated.

Once the contents of box are removed therefrom, the owner must then return the movable parts of the structure to positions such that the box will now be rendered suitable for reuse and subsequent reattachment to a vending machine at the installation site. This is effected while cover 76 is removed by a resetting operation to be described hereinafter.

Note that the right-hand flange 74, as viewed in FIG. 3, is provided with a notch 92 adjacent the lower end of the flange which, when cover 76 is removed, is aligned with a tab 94 integral with the lower end of reset element 62 (FIG. 4). This enables a screwdriver tip to be inserted into mechanism 50 between back 20 and protective plate 52, for the purpose of depressing tab 94 when box 16 is laid over in a horizontal position with side 14 facing downwardly. The depressing of tab 94 swings element 62 about pin 54 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6, thereby'shifting latch dog 60 toward component 66 through the interconnecting medium of the integral plate 70. While pressure is maintained against the bias of spring '72, key 40 is rotated in a direction to shift gate 28 toward its open position, this now being possible since dog 68 is no longer in the path of travel of the catch 64. Movement of gate 28 toward the open position effectively removes latch dog 60 from the confines of slot 68 whereupon, as the dog clears the free extremity or tip of component 66, the operator will experience additional movement of element 62 if pressure is maintained on tab 94. Thus, dog 60 is ultimately shifted to a position completely clear of member 58, and held in such position by rotating key 40 in the opposite direction to swing gate 28 back to its closed position.

Therefore, after the resetting operation is completed, the various movable parts of the structure will be in the positions illustrated in FIG. 6, except for plate 70 which is now displaced in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 6 with dog 60 resting against the outer periphery of component 66.

With component 66 maintaining lat-ch dog 60 out of slot 68 against the bias of spring 72, the box may be reinstalled on a vending machine after cover 76 is replaced and locked in place. As the routeman rotates key 40 to swing locking member 48 to its upper, locking position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, gate 28 is reopened to permit coins to pass into the box through entrance 26. The open position of the gate and the positions of the internal components when the box is installed on the machine are shown in FIG. 5, where it may be seen that latch dog 60 now engages latch member 58 in angula-rly spaced relationship to catch 64. Dog 60 did not interlock with catch 64 upon movement of the gate to the open position as the box was locked to the machine, because the tip of component 66 and catch 64 are in substantially radial alignment with respect to pin 38 so that, as component 66 moved out of engagement with dog 60, the dog was shifted by spring 72 onto the portion of latch member 58 outside of slot 68.

The next time the vender is visited by the routeman to remove the box and replace it with an empty box, key 40 must be inserted into lock 30 and rotated in a direction to withdraw locking member 48, whereupon gate 28 is simultaneously closed. This returns dog 60 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, thereby precluding reopening of the gate until the coin-containing box is once again returned to the owner of the machine who possesses key 90. Thus, gate 28 cannot be reopened by key 40 or the box reused until the owner has gained access to the coinage therein by removing cover 76, and has reset mechanism 50 in the manner just described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin receiver for a vending machine comprising:

a coin box provided with means for attaching the box to said machine,

said box having a. coin entrance therein and an access opening for permitting coin removal, and including a cover normally disposed in closing relationship to said opening;

a gate mounted in said box adjacent said entrance;

key-operated means coupled with said gate for shifting the latter between an open position clearing said entrance and a closed position blocking the entrance, said means including a shiftable lock member movable with the gate to a disposition for locking the box to V the machine as the gate is shifted to said open position, and movable away from said disposition to permit removal of the box from the machine as said gate is shifted to said closed position;

a key-operated lock structure engageable with said cover for releasably maintaining the latter in said normal disposition; and

a resettable latch mechanism in said box operably coupled with said gate for preventing reopening thereof by said means after the gate is shifted to said closed position,

said mechanism including a shiftable reset element accessible through said opening and operable to release said gate upon actuation of the element whereby, when the box is removed from the machine, access to coinage therein is denied until said lock structure is operated to release said cover, whereupon the mechanism may be reset to permit subsequent operation of said means to reopen the gate and relock the box to the machine,

said mechanism further including a rotary plate member rotatable with said gate and having a radial projection defining a catch, a latch dog rigid with said element and shiftable therewith between a reset disposition radially spaced from the axis of said plate member and a disposition in closer spaced relationship to said axis where the dog is engageable with said catch to lock the gate in said closed position,

a component on said latch member located to receive said latch dog thereon and hold the same out of a position to engage said shoulder and interfere with rotation of said latch member,

and yieldable means coupled with said element and said component and the shoulder being located in relabiasing the latter in a direction to shift the dog totive dispositions and in radially spaced relationship ward said catch-engaging disposition, requiring that the latch dog be held away from the said plate member having acomponent extending along latch member against the pressure of the biasing the path of rotation thereof and radially spaced from means as the latch member is rotated first in said one said axis a greater distance than said catch, said com- 10 direction and then said opposite direction to reset ponent being engageable with said dog, upon movesaid mechanism. ment of the latter to said reset disposition and move- 3. A coin receiver for a vending machine comprising: a ment of the gate to said closed position, for maincoin box provided with means for attaching the box to taining the dog in said reset disposition against the said machine, action of said yieldable means, said box having a partition therein dividing the box said component terminating in substantial radial aligninto a pair of compartments, a coin entrance comment with said catch to release the dog for rnovemunicating with one of said compartments, an access ment under the action of the yieldable means as the opening communicating with both of said compartgate is shifted toward said open position, whereby ments, and a removable cover normally closing said the dog is precluded from engaging the catch but opening and providing a common closure for said moves to an intermediate radial position so that, when mp m the gate is returned to the closed position, the dog a g m n in i b x a j n i n n advances further under the action of the yieldable yp means Coupled With Said gate for Shifting means to engage the catch and lock the gate. the latter between an open position clearing said en- 2. Security means for coins received in a vending rnatrance and a Closed Position blocking the entrance,

chine comprising: said means including a shiftable lock member movable a box having a coin entrance therein for receiving coins With the gate to a disposition looking the box to from said machine and an access opening for removthe machine as the gate is Shifted to said p P ing coins from said box, a d including a cover tion, and movable away from said disposition to permally disposed in closing relationship to said openlIlit r v l of t e bOX from the machine as said ing; gate is shifted to said closed position;

a gate pivotally mounted in said box adjacent said ena yp lock stmet'h-fe ehgegeahle With Said trance, and rotatable betw en an open iti d er for releasably maintaining the latter in said noring said entrance and a closed position blocking the 11131 disposition; and e tran a resettable latch mechanism disposed exclusively witha lock bolt rotatable with the gate for locking the box in the other of said compartments and p y to the machine as the gate is rotated in one direction P With said gate for Preventing reopening thereof to said open osition, a d fo r l a i th b f by said means after the gate is shifted to said closed the machine only as the gate is rotated in the opposite Position, direction to said closed position; 40 said mechanism including a shiftable reset element aca first lock Operable by a first key and coupled ith cessible through said opening and operable to release said gate and said bolt for rotating both of the same; said gate upon actuation of the element y,

a second lock operable by a second and difierent key when the is removed from the machine, access and also provided with a lo k b lt f ffi i id to coinage therein is denied until said lock structure cover in closing disposition to said access opening; is operated to release d e wh reup n e mechanism may be reset to permit subsequent opera resettable latch mechanism in said box oper-ably couatioh of Said means to p the gate and felook pled with said first lock for latching the latter when the box to the machinethe gate is rotated in said opposite direction to said closed position, whereby said gate is maintained in References Cited said closed position after said box is released from UNITED STATES PATENTS the machine,

said mechanism including a latch member on said gate 7/1'878 Horn-um 232 15 and movable therewith, a latch dog movable radial- 322,373 7/ 1835 vHEIFIISOII 232-15 1y with respect to the axis of rotation of the latch 9Ol778 10/1908 Bucknam 2'32 15 mem er, and means biasing the latch dog toward the 2 25%;; 21 32; I)

, o i s n latch mem er, the la ter bem provided with a stop 1016,18 5 1/1962 Osborne 232 15 shoulder positioned to engage the latch dog and preclude rotation of the latch member when the latch dog is in the latching position thereof under the pressure of said biasing means, and there further being DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner,

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A COIN RECEIVER FOR A VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING: A COIN BOX PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE BOX TO SAID MACHINE, SAID BOX HAVING A COIN ENTRANCE THEREIN AND AN ACCESS OPENING FOR PERMITTING COIN REMOVEL, AND INCLUDING A COVER NORMALLY DISPOSED IN CLOSING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID OPENING; A GATE MOUNTED IN SAID BOX ADJACENT SAID ENTRANCE; KEY-OPERATED MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID GATE FOR SHIFTING THE LATTER BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION CLEARING SAID ENTRANCE AND A CLOSED POSITION BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SHIFTABLE LOCK MEMBER MOVABLE WITH THE GATE TO A DISPOSITION FOR LOCKING THE BOX TO THE MACHINE AS THE GATE IS SHIFTED TO SAID OPEN POSITION, AND MOVABLE AWAY FROM SAID DISPOSITION TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE BOX FROM THE MACHINE AS A SAID GATE IS SHIFTED TO SAID CLOSED POSITION; A KEY-OPERATED LOCK STRUCTURE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID COVER FOR RELEASABLY MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN SAID NORMAL DISPOSITION; AND A RESETTABLE LATCH MECHANISM IN SAID BOX OPERABLY COUPLED WITH SAID GATE FOR PREVENTING REOPENING THEREOF BY SAID MEANS AFTER THE GATE IS SHIFTED TO SAID CLOSED POSITION, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING A SHIFTABLE RESET ELEMENT ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SAID OPENING AND OPERABLE TO RELEASE SAID GATE UPON ACTUATION OF THE ELEMENT WHEREBY, WHEN THE BOX IS REMOVED FROM THE MACHINE, ACCESS TO COINAGE THEREIN IS DENIED UNTIL SAID LOCK STRUCTURE IS OPERATED TO RELEASE SAID COVER, WHEREUPON THE MECHANISM MAY BE RESET TO PERMIT SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF SAID MEANS TO REOPEN THE GATE AND RELOCK THE BOX TO THE MACHINE, SAID MECHANISM FURTHER INCLUDING A ROTARY PLATE MEMBER ROTATABLE WITH SAID GATE AND HAVNG A RADIAL PROJECTION DEFINING A CATCH, A LATCH DOG RIGID WITH SAID ELEMENT AND SHIFTABLE THEREWITH BETWEEN A RESET DISPOSITION RADIALLY SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF SAID PLATE MEMBER AND A DISPOSITION IN CLOSER SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID AXIS WHERE THE DOG IS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CATCH TO LOCK THE GATE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, AND YIELDABLE MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID ELEMENT AND BIASING THE LATTER IN A DIRECTION TO SHIFT THE DOG TOWARD SAID CATCH-ENGAGING DISPOSITION, SAID PLATE MEMBER HAVING A COMPONENT EXTENDING ALONG THE PATH OF ROTATION THEREOF AND RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID AXIS A GREATER DISTANCE THAN SAID CATCH, SAID COMPONENT BEING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DOG, UPON MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER TO SAID RESET DISPOSITION AND MOVEMENT OF THE GATE TO SAID CLOSED POSITION, FOR MAINTAINING THE DOG IN SAID RESET DISPOSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID YIELDABLE MEANS, SAID COMPONENT TERMINATING IN SUBSTANTIAL RADIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CATCH TO RELEASE THE DOG FOR MOVEMENT UNDER THE ACTION OF THE YEILDABLE MEANS AS THE GATE IS SHIFTED TOWARD SAID OPEN PISTON, WHEREBY THE DOG IS PRECLUDED FROM ENGAGING THE CATCH BUT MOVES TO AN INTERMEDIATE RADIAL POSITION SO THAT, WHEN THE GATE IS RETURNED TO THE CLOSED POSITION, THE DOG ADVANCES FURTHER UNDER THE ACTION OF THE YIELDABLE MEANS TO ENGAGE THE CATCH AND LOCK THE GATE. 